for the rest of us death will be a relief

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[veneratia]

What?

[She blinks, thrown by the random word because as far as she's concerned that isn't a name. And certainly not associated with anyone she knows.

"Russell DeBrande," Donna offers, because of course she wouldn't know Rusty of four hundred years ago as Rusty.]

Oh. Yes, Russell DeBrande was the man she cursed.

[maxxx]

Rusty called the original Gauntlet, I'll be damned.

( That and being cursed would drive a man crazy. )

Sorry. That's his name now. Or, Dave. Or. Wait. Donna, you know --

( Not the point. )

Give me a moment.

( He mutes the call, glancing around at everyone.

"What are the chances," Sierra says, smirking. )

[tearhiseyesout]

I don't like it.

[David wrinkles his nose, because while he knows that things are weird right now. "I'm kind of with your sister on this one."

Jaqueline points to David.]

Ha! Then this means I'm right.

[maxxx]

It means we should be cautious and I don't disagree. Let's go through the scenarios. Say she's who she says she is. She's... back. With someone else Donna thought was dead. She found us through Donna. It feels random, but it doesn't feel sinister.

( "Are you just looking for a reason to pull Rusty back into the proceedings," Ezra asks, out of line. )

Rusty is long gone.

( "But, Adrienne, his long lost whatever, that would send him running back, back into your orbit, when we have more important things. We have Elton. You should be focusing on Elton, not this woman."

He lets that settle, then turns to Sierra.

"Well."

Sierra shrugs, looking at her wife, her former bethrothed and then his.

"Another pair of hands here, especially one with knowledge from four hundred years ago wouldn't be something I'd turn away, but I would also want her vetted," she admits. "Before we bring her here physically and definitely not through David's door." )

So, then what?

[tearhiseyesout]

It'll be hard to do that when right now we can't go to her and again, all her contacts are four hundred years out of date and probably dead.

[David pauses for a moment, before tipping his head to the side. "We could run a DNA test."

Jaqueline's brow furrows.]

Against who's?

["Rusty's." David pauses. "Or yours. But Rusty's would be the most accurate."]

[maxxx]

Rusty bailed.

( Despite being called out, he does sound like Rusty bailed on more than one thing at once. )

Look, what - what harm can she do if we do bring her here. We're on another level now.

[tearhiseyesout]

[David and Jaqueline share a look, as though they're not entirely convinced that this is the best course of action, but still - their choices are limited.]

Did your mom still have that holding room?

[David nods. "I'll make sure the spells are still working." He goes and heads back into the compounds and Jaqueline turns back to her brother.]

We talk to her in the anti-magic room until we figure out if we can trust her.

[maxxx]

( He nods in agreement. They're out of options, they have one very pressing complication, and now they have another, less pressing complication. )

Without Elena's mother?

[tearhiseyesout]

I would assume so given that if she walks into it, she'll spontaneously go back to becoming a corpse again.

[Jaqueline gives a shrug.]

I don't care if she comes here but if she tries to eat us I will shove her in and see what happens.

[maxxx]

I don't care what happens to Elena's mother, but I do want to stay on this woman's good side. Ezra can bide Isobel's time while we figure out Adrienne.

( "I'm not a pawn you can move around the board." )

No, you're the newest addition to the family. Next newest, to my AWOL husband.

[tearhiseyesout]

Someone needs to distract and delay and Max and I are going to be in the room interrogating our new ancestor.

[She will throw Ezra something of a bone.]

You, David and Sierra can figure it out. But let it be known that if my wife dies, it will not end well for you.

[So, basically, do not let Isobel eat Sierra. Also she likes saying her wife, it's fun.]

[maxxx]

( "Why, in this scenario, is your wife dying?" Ezra asks gesturing.

"She just likes saying 'my wife,' Sierra contributes, amusement on her features. )

No one is dying at the hands of this Isobel woman. Or, Adrienne.

( He brings the phone back up. )

Adrienne, I'm sorry for the extended delay, I was discussing things with my family. We will be sending an envoy for the both of you.

[veneratia]

Wonderful. Looking forward to our discussion.

[She glances back to Donna.]

Is it fine for us to wait here? Or should we go back to our lodgings?

[Donna looks past her to the phone. "Depends. Do you want them to know where those lodgings are?"

Adrienne considers carefully.]

It also depends on if they're sending a Gainor or sending one of those ... cars. One takes more time than another.

[maxxx]

We're sending a Gainor. But, he needs to have been where you are in order to get to you, so, please ask Donna nicely for a conference room or somewhere out of the way.

( David will finish up in the warding room. )

[veneratia]

Then yes, we'll stay here.

[She glances back to Donna.]

Wherever you feel will be best.

[Donna nods. "I'll text David the name of the conference room. He's familiar enough with the layout."]

[foreclosures]

You do that.

( Donna. )

Looks like you're going to be granted an audience. Make it count.

[veneratia]

I intend to.

[Adrienne waits until they're settled into the conference room in question and Donna goes back to work before looking over to Isobel.]

What about you? Once things are settled, I mean.

[foreclosures]

Reinvent myself.

( It wouldn't be the first time she'd done it. )

It isn't often you get a second second chance.

[veneratia]

No, I suppose there isn't.

[Adrienne pauses as she watches people move through firm.]

It seems like I have no choice but reinvention. Though I worry that some things are going to follow me no matter what I do.

[foreclosures]

It may be that things left in the past will stay in the past. It's been, by my count, over four hundred years. You can be whatever you want to be, Adrienne.

( Or, whatever they let her be. Or, who. )

My advice. Come from a place of deference. But, keep your eyes open.

[veneratia]

[She can be whatever she wants, in this brave new world it seems, but that doesn't mean she ever won't be a traitor's daughter. Will that be something they can trust? Will they allow her the grace of pretending her father is someone he wasn't?]

Always. The last time I didn't, it got me killed.

[foreclosures]

You wouldn't be foolish enough to let that happen again. And, should things go awry, you won't be alone.

( Her hubris knows no bounds. )

[veneratia]

Thank you for that. For all of this, really.

[In case she doesn't get the chance to say it while they're back with the coven.]

I would have truly been lost without you.

[foreclosures]

You ensured I wouldn't be dust all over again. I believe the thanks should be mutual.

( Answers will come. )

[veneratia]

Perhaps. Doesn't mean we still shouldn't say it.

[She was raised with manners, after all.]

Hopefully this will be a relationship well-maintained.